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Commissioners consider reality of possible looming cuts

Patrick Johnston, Times Record News
Published 3:43 p.m. CT July 5, 2017

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Wichita County Tax Assessor Tommy Smyth (left) talks during a Wichita County Commissioners Court meeting. The Wichita County tax offices in three cities will change their days of operation.(Photo: Times Record News file photo)Buy Photo

With the tax rate nearly maxed out, Wichita County commissioners may have to cut up to 5 percent of county employees to make budget.

The panel discussed possibly needing to cull about 20 to 25 positions out of about 500 people currently working for the county in an effort to save about $1 million.

Commissioner Barry Mahler pointed to the bleak point that the county is in trouble even with static budgets for every department over the next five years. That'd mean no raises, no repairs to buildings and vehicles, and no improvements to county buildings.

With the passing of the bond for the jail, the county is nearing it's $0.80 cap on taxes. County Judge Woody Gossum said they have about 13 cents to play with for the next 30 years.

The court has discussed other infrastructure issues facing the county, but Bob Hampton said they might need to focus on more pressing issues than improving bathrooms.

"I think we need to address one problem at a time," the county treasurer said. "Let's start by figuring out how to pay these people first."

While the decisions haven't been finalized, there have been talks of cutting five positions from the sheriff's office — two patrol deputies, two jailers and an administrative position — and four from the tax office.

They've also discussed cutting two personnel each from the county and district clerks offices, two from Precinct 5 and a person from the central magistrate's office, maintenance, human services, court administrators, veterans services and the commissioners court.

One position would also be cut between the two justices of the peace offices.

There were no cuts mentioned from the district attorney's office or the IT department, which were both expected to gain one employee next year. Those positions may be reconsidered though.

"This is not the end of the discussion, folks," Mahler said. "This is just the beginning."

The average salary of a county employee, including his or her benefits package, is about $40,000 a year, Commissioner Lee Harvey said. Cutting the positions could save the county about $1 million.

"None of this has been decided," Gossum said. "Come back and help us find other solutions."

Department heads appeared before the court Wednesday morning to give their opinions on the possible cuts to their offices, and several offered alternative ideas.

Ted Gregg, personnel director over human resources, suggested each person responsible for approving money spent by the county consider cutting 2 percent to make up for the salaries of their employees. He suggested that could save about $1.2 million of the projected $60 million budget.

"We all need to step back," Gregg said. "We all have people who could do a better job. Some departments could work with a tighter belt. ... I don't think we're seeing the forests for the trees."

District Clerk Patti Flores also asked the commissioners what of her office's duties that are mandated by the legislature they should cut if the department was to lose two people.

Flores said the only non-mandatory thing she could cut would be billing the attorney general's office, which brings in about $240,000 revenue.

"You have to figure out how to do all of your work with less," Harvey said. "That's the world we're living in."

Mahler said this discussion won't go away after it's been settled this year and will likely be an issue next year with rising healthcare costs. Several of the department heads had already expressed a similar concern if they gave up positions this year.

Harvey said the county is beyond being able to just cut the proverbial cable bill to save money at this point.

"We need to get rid of the TV," he said. "... We're at a place in time where we're about to be maxed out. ... If it were at my house, we're going to do what it takes to survive. That's what we need to do here."